news 23 July 2026 The Observer (Uganda)
URC Boss Kajuna Summoned by Police Over Missing Shs 220 Billion Wagons
Parliament has ordered Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) Managing Director Benon Kajuna to report to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (CID) following the unexplained disappearance of 394 railway wagons valued at over Shs 220 billion. The directive comes after the physical infrastructure committee expressed dissatisfaction with URC's handling of the missing assets. Source: https://observer.ug/news/uganda-railways-boss-kajuna-on-spot-as-394-wagons-worth-shs-220bn-disappear
Benon Kajuna, the managing director of Uganda Railways Corporation (URC), has been instructed by a parliamentary committee to make a formal statement to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (CID) regarding the mysterious vanishing of 394 railway wagons, collectively worth more than Shs 220.8 billion.
This directive was issued on July 23, 2026, after a tense session where the physical infrastructure committee voiced strong concerns about URC’s explanations for the missing rolling stock. Committee chairman Mwine Mpaka demanded immediate proof of joint efforts with Kenya Railways Corporation to locate the wagons, but the documents tabled reportedly lacked confirmation from the Kenyan counterpart.
“The assumption is they are in Kenya, but there is also an assumption that some are sold in Uganda,” Mpaka stated. He warned that if Kajuna fails to provide substantial evidence within a week, parliamentary action would escalate.
The controversy originated from the Auditor General’s December 2025 report, which flagged significant lapses in URC’s asset management. The audit revealed that by November 2024, URC could not account for 113 of its own wagons, an issue compounded by the disappearance of all 281 wagons leased from Kenya Railways Corporation.
Concerns were also raised about the potential diplomatic fallout. Budiope County MP Eng. Ssebbugga Kimeze highlighted the gravity of losing assets belonging to a neighboring country, warning it could strain bilateral relations. Each missing wagon is estimated to cost approximately $150,000, placing a substantial financial burden on taxpayers.
Kajuna, who assumed his role in early 2025, cited the complexity of tracing wagons, involving continuous inventory checks and bilateral talks with Kenya Railways. However, parliamentary members remained unconvinced, questioning the lack of traceability and identification for such significant assets.
https://observer.ug/news/uganda-railways-boss-kajuna-on-spot-as-394-wagons-worth-shs-220bn-disappear